Replacement soap dish

ABSTRACT

A molded replacement soap dish that will bond to an existing wall or to a laminate sheet overlying an existing wall of a bathroom having an embedded existing soap dish with a soap tray projecting from the wall and through an opening in a laminate sheet if such laminate sheet is provided and that will fit over and rest on the projecting tray of the existing soap dish during and after bonding of the replacement soap dish to the existing wall or to a laminate sheet overlying the existing wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to soap dishes that are installed on the walls of shower stalls.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Bathrooms in homes often have tiled walls surrounding or partially surrounding a shower area. It is not uncommon that such walls have a metal soap dish with a backing surface embedded in the wall and a soap tray projecting from the backing surface. A peripheral flange usually surrounds the soap dish and is secured to the wall tiles surrounding the backing surface. After a period of time the metal of the soap dish corrodes and the dish falls apart and becomes unsightly. The corroded dish can be removed and a replacement dish can be inserted into the wall. It has been found, however, that in removing the corroded soap dish the surrounding tile is severely damaged. If this happens additional time and labor is necessary to repair the damaged wall.

[0003] A common method of refurbishing bathrooms in homes is to overlay existing wall surfaces around bathtubs and showers with plastic laminates. The walls to be covered may be painted, tiled or covered with other materials. It is also common that the wall to be replaced have a soap dish projecting from the wall surface. Often, the soap dish has a backing surface embedded in the wall, a lip of a soap tray projecting from the embedded backing surface and in some instances a wash cloth hangar projecting from the backing surface above the lip of the soap tray. A flange around the soap dish prevents the soap dish from being inserted too far into the wall. If the backing surface and attached soap tray lip and wash cloth hangar are not removed from the wall before the wall is covered the laminate applied to the wall will not lay flat against the wall to be covered. Removal of an existing soap dish from the wall to be covered leaves a hole in the wall that often must then be patched to provide a proper bonding surface for the laminate. If the wall to be covered is tiled or plastered, removal of the embedded soap dish can result in damage to surrounding tiles or plaster and additional patching of the wall to be covered may be required in preparation for the covering laminate to be bonded in place. Unnecessary time and labor can result from removing the existing soap dish.

[0004] Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a replacement soap dish to be bonded to a wall from which a soap dish requiring replacement projects or even to an overlying laminate sheet positioned to overlie the existing wall from which the soap dish to be replaced projects. The replacement soap dish will cover the projecting lip of a soap tray projecting from a wall. The replacement soap dish rests on the projecting lip of the existing soap tray of the soap dish embedded in the wall and is securely bonded to the wall or to a laminate sheet overlying the wall.

[0005] Principal features of the invention include a one-piece body large enough and shaped to fit entirely over an existing soap dish having a lip projecting from a wall. The one-piece body has a front face with a central recessed backing area and forwardly projecting spaced apart vertical sides interconnected at upper ends by a forwardly projecting top and interconnected at lower ends by a soap shelf. The replacement soap dish shelf has a top surface that extends outwardly from the front face and from each of the projecting vertical sides to beyond the projection of the spaced apart vertical sides and the projecting top. The replacement soap dish shelf has a bottom that is connected to the top surface of the soap dish shelf by a front edge and to the vertical sides.

[0006] The spaced vertical sides, the forwardly projecting top and the bottom of the soap shelf all extend rearwardly to a common terminal edge at the rear of the soap dish. A space is formed between the top and bottom of the soap dish shelf and the space extends between the spaced vertical sides and to the front edge interconnecting the top and bottom of the soap dish shelf.

[0007] The replacement soap dish of the invention is sized such that even when a laminate sheet is placed over an existing wall having an existing embedded soap dish with a soap tray having a projecting lip, the lip will extend into the space of the replacement soap dish of the invention formed between the top and bottom of the replacement soap dish shelf and between the vertical sides of the dish. The top of the replacement soap dish shelf rests on the lip of the existing soap dish. The shelf tray of the existing soap dish thus provides extra support for the replacement soap dish which is also bonded to the wall or to a laminate sheet overlying the wall, if used. A bead of silicone or other suitable water-proof material is placed around the replacement soap dish to prevent water entry between the replacement soap dish and the wall, or overlying laminate sheet, if used.

[0008] Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

DRAWINGS

[0009] In the drawings:

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a wall to be covered, having a soap dish recessed into the wall, an overlying laminate sheet and a replacement soap dish; and

[0011]FIG. 2, a vertical section view, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, through the replacement soap dish.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring now to the drawings:

[0013] As illustrated in FIG.1, a tiled bathroom wall is shown generally, at 10. A conventional existing soap dish 12 is mounted to project from the wall 10. Soap dish 12 includes a backing surface 14 that is embedded into the wall 10 and that has a soap tray 16 extending from a lower end of the enclosure and projecting outwardly of the surface of wall 10. A flange 20 surrounds the backing surface 14 and lies flat against the surface of wall 10 surrounding the opening (not shown) through which the backing surface 14 is inserted into the wall.

[0014] A laminate sheet 22 may be used to overlie the wall 10 as a result of remodeling of the bathroom containing wall 10. An opening 24 is cut through the laminate sheet to allow the laminate sheet to closely surround the existing soap dish. The replacement soap dish 30 is then affixed to the laminate sheet 22. If the laminate sheet 22 is not used, the replacement soap dish 30 will be bonded directly to wall 12.

[0015] Soap dish 30 includes a one-piece molded body, shown generally at 40. Body 40 has a front face 42, and a central, recessed backing area 44. Forwardly projecting vertical sides 46 and 48 are formed at opposite sides of the central recessed backing area 44. The sides 46 and 48 are interconnected at their respective upper ends 50 and 52 by forwardly projecting top 54. The sides are interconnected at their respective lower ends 56 and 58 by a soap holder shelf 60.

[0016] Soap holder shelf 60 has a top surface 62 that extends outwardly of the front face 42 of the soap dish 30 and beyond the projection of the sides 46 and 48 and the top 54. The soap holder shelf 60 also has a bottom 64 that is connected to the top surface 62 and to the projecting sides 46 and 48 by a front edge 66.

[0017] The spaced vertical sides 46 and 48, the forwardly projecting top 54 and the bottom 62 of the soap holder shelf all extend rearwardly to a common terminal edge 70 at the rear of the soap dish 30. A space 72 is formed between the top 62 and bottom 64 of the soap holder shelf 60. Space 72 extends between the spaced projecting sides 46 and 48 and to the front edge 66 interconnecting the forwardly projecting top 54 and the bottom 64 of the soap holder shelf.

[0018] In practice, when no laminate sheet 22 is installed, the replacement soap dish 30 is positioned to fully cover the existing soap dish 12 and with the soap dish tray 16 extending into the space72 of the replacement soap dish 30. Top 62 of the shelf 60 is positioned to rest on the soap tray 16 of the existing soap dish 12. The common edge 70 of the replacement soap dish 30 is then bonded to the wall 12 and a bead of silicone or other suitable water proof material (not shown) may be applied around the edge 70 to protect the bond between the replacement soap dish 30 and wall 10,

[0019] A laminate sheet, as shown at 22, may be positioned to overlay the wall 10 of a bathroom. If necessary, a wash cloth holder projecting from the original soap dish 12, but not shown herein, is cut from the soap dish 12. It is recognized that some, but not all, existing soap dishes of the type shown at 12 include such a wash cloth holder. During installation of the laminate sheet the opening 24 is placed around the existing soap dish.

[0020] The soap dish 30 is positioned against the laminate sheet 22 with the lip 16 extending into the space 72 and with the top surface 62 of the soap holder shelf 60 resting on the soap dish tray 16 of the existing soap dish 12. The common terminal edge 70 of the soap dish 30 is bonded to the laminate sheet 22 and a waterproof sealant, not shown, may be applied around the common edge 70 to protect the adhesive bond formed between the replacement soap dish 30 and the laminate sheet 22.

[0021] The laminate sheet 22 is preferably formed of a non-porous, acrylic plastic and the soap dish 30 is molded of a suitable plastic having a color suitable for use with the wall 10 or laminate sheet 22 and that will bond well with the laminate sheet.

[0022] Although a preferred form of our invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter we regard as our invention. 

I claim:
 1. A replacement soap dish that will bond to a wall surface from which a soap tray of an existing soap dish projects comprising a one-piece molded body large enough to fit over an existing soap dish; a soap shelf projecting from a front face of said body, said soap shelf having a top and a bottom spaced from said top, said top and bottom being interconnected by a front edge and having a space open at a back of said soap shelf, whereby a soap tray of an existing soap dish will fit into said space.
 2. A replacement soap dish that will bond to a wall surface from which a soap tray of an existing soap dish projects comprising a one piece molded body large enough to fit over an existing soap dish having a front face, a central recessed backing area, forwardly projecting vertical sides spaced at opposite sides of said central recessed backing area, a forwardly projecting top interconnecting upper ends of said sides, and a shelf holder projecting from said central recessed backing area outwardly beyond the projection of said sides and said top, said shelf having a top surface and a bottom surface spaced from said top surface, said top surface, said bottom and said sides being connected by a front edge, each of said sides, said top and said bottom extending rearwardly to a common edge and a space formed by said top surface of said shelf, said bottom of said shelf and said sides, whereby said top surface of said shelf will rest on a shelf tray of an existing soap dish extending into said space. 